Area Restaurateur Says He Was `Set Up' By Feds

June 26, 1990|By STEPHANIE SHARPE Staff Writer

GLOUCESTER — A county restaurateur says his business, home and property were wrongfully seized by overzealous federal agents last week.

Saying he was "set up" by federal undercover agents in a fake drug-running operation, the owner of Michael's Seafood Restaurant filed a petition Monday disputing the U.S. government's claim to his property.

"I don't do drugs," said 35-year-old Anastasis Sampson Michael of Gloucester Court House. "I was set up. All I know is that a couple of guys approached me about buying my restuarant. I said no.

"The next thing I know, they're talking about $300,000, calling me up all the time, and shoving money into my pocket. I didn't do anything wrong, and they're trying to make it look like I did," he said.

According to a civil seizure warrant and supporting affidavit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, Michael is suspected of drug smuggling, laundering drug money and cheating the state on alcohol taxes. No criminal charges have been filed against Michael.

According to papers filed in court by the Justice Department, the decision to seize the property was based on written testimony from DEA special undercover agent Christopher Tolley, who said Michael had been negotiating a drug-running operation with him, using a vacant airstrip behind Michael's property.

The affidavit also stated Micheal helped Tolley and other undercover agents smuggle three kilos of "sham" cocaine into the airstrip earlier this month. Michael allowed the agents to transact the drug deal in his home behind the restaurant, the affidavit said.

The government's seizure claim also says that Michael told Tolley that he'd helped drug smugglers in the past.

The government has allowed Michael to stay in his home and run his restaurant until the claim has been settled, said Mark A. Exley, assistant U.S. attorney for Virginia's Eastern district.

Michael said Monday that the petition contesting the seizure states he did not knowingly contribute to any narcotics operation - past or present. The claim was filed in Newport News U.S. District Court by Newport News attorney Kennth B. Murov, Michael said. Murov could not be reached for comment.

"I'm going to fight this thing all the way to the end," Michael said. "It's not right that somebody can come in and take everything I've worked for. They know I'm innocent."